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NEED TO KNOW
- Ericka Rodriguez, 18, has been charged after she was accused of taking a selfie while holding an imitation rifle outside Hauppauge High School in Long Island, N.Y., on Tuesday, June 17
- The school was placed into a lockout as a result, a spokesperson for Hauppage Public Schools told PEOPLE
- Rodriguez is former student of the school, according to local media reports
An 18-year-old is facing charges after she allegedly snapped a selfie posing with a fake rifle outside her old high school in New York, according to reports.
On Tuesday, June 17, former student Ericka Rodriguez, 18, was accused of taking a selfie while holding an imitation rifle in front of Hauppauge High School in Suffolk County in Long Island, according to local media outlets News 12 Long Island, Newsday and TBR News Media.
The school was subsequently placed into a lockout, per News 12 Long Island. In a message obtained by PEOPLE to parents from Dr. Donald B. Murphy, Superintendent of Schools at Hauppage Public Schools, Dr. Murphy said the middle school was also placed into a lockout “out of an abundance of caution” and “all exterior doors to the buildings were securely locked, and no one was allowed to enter or exit the buildings.”
Dr. Murphy said the school district’s security team was alerted to a “911 report made to the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) regarding an individual on the sidewalk along Lincoln Boulevard, near Veterans Memorial Highway. The individual was reported to be carrying an object that appeared to be a firearm.”
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The object was determined to be a Gel Launcher, or toy gun, which can “closely resembled a firearm,” Dr, Murphy said in his message,
The lockout was lifted just over an hour later.
“We want to reassure our families that students and staff remained safe at all times. As always, we are extremely grateful for the swift response from SCPD and the vigilance of our security team. Our safety protocols were implemented promptly and effectively,” Dr. Murphy’s message to parents concluded.
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Rodriguez was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon on school grounds and endangering the welfare of a child, per the outlets.
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According to TBR News Media, Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip, Long Island, at a later date.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Suffolk County Police for comment.